<p>This guide compares gas, electric, and infrared heating options for events held in England and Wales. Selecting the correct outdoor heater hire equipment depends on the size of the space, power availability, and the duration of the event.</p>
<p>This guide compares gas, electric, and infrared heating options for events held in England and Wales. Selecting the correct outdoor heater hire equipment depends on the size of the space, power availability, and the duration of the event.</p>
This guide compares gas, electric and infrared heaters for commercial events in England and Wales. Your choice comes down to venue rules, power access, wind exposure and the size of the area you need to warm. Expo Hire supplies commercial heating equipment with live stock levels and pricing online, so you can check availability before you book.
Start with the site. A field, open terrace or courtyard with no mains power points usually pushes you toward gas. A covered terrace, marquee entrance or venue that bans open flames usually pushes you toward electric or infrared. If guests will stay seated in one area, infrared often gives you tighter control over where the heat lands.
Gas patio heaters suit events where mains electricity is limited or too far from the setup. These units run on propane cylinders stored in the base, so you can place them where guests need heat instead of building the layout around sockets and cable runs. They work well in open-air courtyards, festival sites and terrace spaces with good airflow.
Most commercial gas patio heaters produce 10kW to 13kW of heat and cover roughly 3 to 5 metres in diameter. The heat rises, so these units work best in open spaces rather than under low ceilings or inside enclosed marquees. Wind will cut the effective coverage, so place them near walls, screens or other windbreaks where possible.
Electric patio heaters fit venues that ban gas or make cylinder handling awkward. Hotels, conference centres and covered terraces often prefer electric models because they run without fumes or open flames. Our electric patio heater range suits semi-enclosed spaces where you have a reliable power supply nearby.
Most commercial electric heaters produce 2kW to 3kW of heat. They give steady output, run quietly and remove the need for fuel changes during service. The trade-off sits in the power plan. Each unit needs a suitable 13A or 16A supply, and multiple heaters on one circuit can trip breakers if you overload the line.
Electric models work well on terraces, outside hospitality suites and in marquee entrances where you need controlled heat close to the building. They also help when the venue's fire rules rule out gas. If you are building a covered guest area with gazebo hire or similar shelter, electric heaters give you a cleaner setup as long as you can route cables safely.
Infrared heaters warm people and surfaces directly instead of heating the air around them. That makes them a strong option in breezy spaces where convection heat from gas units can drift away. They switch on fast and suit layouts where guests stay in one zone for the event.
The limitation is coverage. Guests feel the benefit inside the beam, but the effect drops as soon as they step out of it. Large standing receptions often need several units positioned to overlap.
Work from the floor area, the weather forecast and the way guests will use the space. A rough planning guide for a 12kW gas heater looks like this:
Use that as a starting point, then adjust for wind exposure, ceiling height, guest density and the number of door openings. A 100 square metre area in cool weather often needs four to five gas heaters.
Set every heater on level ground and keep clear space around it. Your team should check gas hoses, regulators and cylinder connections before service starts. Electric and infrared setups need dedicated circuits, weather-safe connections and RCD protection. If you are hiring other powered items such as catering equipment, include the full electrical load in the venue power plan.
Pick gas if the event sits in an open area with little or no power. Pick electric if the venue bans open flames and you have sockets close to the setup. Pick infrared if you need directional heat for seating areas or breezy spots. Larger outdoor events often use both, gas heaters for open social areas and electric or infrared units near the building where venue rules are tighter.
You can view our wider patio heater hire range and combine it with outdoor event hire equipment to finish the layout.
Standard hire covers three days, giving you time for delivery, the event and collection. Expo Hire delivers from 11 regional depots across England and Wales, with transport from £40 ex-VAT based on road distance. We supply business and event customers, not domestic hires.
Standard orders do not need a security deposit and include a free minor damage waiver for small accidental marks or dents. On delivery day, you can track the vehicle live and receive an SMS ETA.
Expo Hire does not deliver to Scotland. If you need to buy outdoor heating for a Scottish venue, our sister site Expo Direct sells outdoor furniture and heating equipment outright and ships there.
Can I use a gas patio heater inside a marquee?
No. Gas patio heaters need open air or strong ventilation. Use electric or infrared heaters rated for that environment instead.
Do infrared heaters work in the wind?
Yes. Infrared heaters warm people and surfaces directly, so wind affects them less than gas convection heaters.
Do I need a generator for electric heaters?
You do if the venue does not have enough suitable power points near the setup. Check total wattage before you confirm the order.
All prices and live stock levels appear on the website. If you are planning a larger setup, add the heaters you need to the basket, check the dates and secure the booking online.
Choose from our vast range of catering hire, furniture hire and exhibition hire products. Select from the categories listed below or use our great search function above.
